Many Catholics in Stockton are preparing for Pope Francis' first visit to the United States.

Many Catholics in Stockton are preparing for Pope Francis' first visit to the United States.

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Updated: 6:55 PM PDT Sep 22, 2015

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WEBVTT HOLGUIN, CUBA'S FOURTH-LARGEST CITY, TO CELEBRATE MASS WITH THE POPE. THE POPE WILL DEPART FOR THE U.S. TOMORROW AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT HIS VISIT IS GROWING IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY. KELLIE: AS KCRA 3'S MELINDA MEZA REPORTS, SOME PEOPLE ARE ARRANGING VIEWING PARTIES AND SOME ARE TURNING TO SOCIAL MEDIA. MELINDA: EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION IN STOCKTON AS CATHOLICS PREPARE TO LISTEN TO POPE FRANCIS DURING HIS FIRST U.S. VISIT. IT'S BIG TIME EXCITEMENT. MELINDA: PARISHONER ANTHONY LOPEZ SAYS THERE ARE SUPER BOWL GATHERINGS, SO WHY NOT A POPE GATHERING? I GUESS LIKE A FOOTBALL GAME GET TOGETHER. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING. CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY YOU MIGHT BE EXCITED FOR THIS SPECIAL VISIT? MELINDA: STUDENTS AT ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL IN STOCKTON ARE PREPARING TO WATCH THE POPE AND PREPARING TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS ON HIS LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS. WE ARE GOING TO BE LIVE STREAMING SOME OF THE EVENTS. HE HAS LIKE A MILLION FOLLOWERS. THAT IS CRAZY. MELINDA: ABAGAIL DELUCCHI IS FOLLOWING THE POPE ON TWITTER AND SAYS SHE COULD ONLY WISH TO MEET HIM IN PERSON. I WOULD PROBABLY GO UP AND GIVE HIM A HUG. MELINDA: THE POPE'S LATEST TWEET -- 29,000 PEOPLE FAVORITED IT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKING PICTURES LIKE FLAT STANLEY TO SHOW FATHER. EXCITED HE'S HERE. MELINDA: THAT EXCITEMENT HAS GROWN TO OTHER CAMPUSES AS WELL. WE FOUND THE SOCIAL MEDIA PHENOMENON CALLED FLAT FRANCIS ALL OVER PRESENTATION SCHOOL. WE GOT SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS PHOTOS. IT DID NOT REPRESENT THE WHOLE STAFF BUT ABOUT 13 OF US REPRESENTED 188 YEARS OF TEACHING CATHOLIC SCHOOL. WE TWEETED THAT TO POPE FRANCIS USING THE HASHTAG #FLATFRANCIS. HE'S DONE A LOT TO REACH OUT TO YOUNGER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION WHO ARE IN NEED OF HELP. MELINDA: ONE THING IS FOR SURE -- THESE STUDENTS SAY THEY WILL BE WATCHING HISTORY. WATCH A LOT MORE NEWS THAN I USUALLY DO. MELINDA: IN STOCKTON, MELINDA

Stockton prepares for pope's visit to US

Many Catholics in Stockton are preparing for Pope Francis' first visit to the United States.